Jon Flanagan may have been cast aside by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in 2016-17, but the England international is adamant that he has a future at Anfield.
After enduring his fair share of injury troubles, the hard-working full-back was allowed to link up with Burnley on a season-long loan last summer.
He has been restricted to a bit-part role with the Clarets, due to the performance of others and further fitness issues, but is part of a Premier League squad.
Klopp: Liverpool may miss out on CL
Flanagan believes he is heading in the right direction and that he can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and become a home-grown hero on Merseyside.
He told the Liverpool Echo: “There’s a lot of competition but that was the case before when I was playing regularly for Liverpool. I want to get back to that.
“I still believe I’ve got a future at Liverpool. I’m not thinking about moving on. You have to be confident in your own ability and I’m ready for the fight.”
Getty
Flanagan added ahead of a Premier League clash between his parent club and loan employers that will see him ineligible for selection: “I’ve got a job to do for Burnley until the end of the season but after that I want to go back and prove what I’m all about at Liverpool.
“One of my greatest strengths is my self-belief. What I’ve done in the past is change people’s opinions of me and force my way into a very good Liverpool team.
Liverpool team news & likely line-up
“I’ve shown that I can perform at the highest level. I am more than confident of doing the same again. I still feel like I’ve got a lot to offer. I am really excited and looking forward to the challenge.”
Flanagan made his senior debut for Liverpool in April 2011, but has only been able to take his appearance tally to 50 in all competitions across the five seasons which have followed.